Hair curler



July 7, 1970 N. L. SOLOMON HAIR CURLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [0 HEATRETENTION, MMI.

Filed March 8,

r p p 0 H b 36k 1 INVENTOR. NATHAN L. SOLOMON ATTORNEY HAIR CURLER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1967 OOOOOOOOOOOOOO INVEI-N'TOR NATHANL.SOLOMON United States Patent Office 3,519,793 Patented July 7, 19703,519,793 HAIR CURLER Nathan L. Solomon, R0. Box 550, Englewood, NJ.07631 Filed Mar. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 621,697 Int. Cl. A45d 4/16 US. Cl.219-222 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hair curler havinginterior cavities containing heat retaining material is heated byimmersion in a heated fluid bath. The curler has at least one interiorpassageway through which the heated fluid passes, thereby increasing thesurface of the curler exposed to the heated fluid, so as to more quicklyheat the heat retaining material within the curler as well as reducingthe weight of the roller. The fluid may be air heated in a container byconvection and radiation of electric bulbs.

This invention relates to hair curlers, and more particularly it relatesto hair curlers which can be heated and retain its heat for apredetermined period of time, so that the retained heat is directed tohair exteriorly wound about the hair curler.

A hair curler containing a heat retaining material permanently sealedwithin having at least one interior opening to speed the initial heatingby boiling water or electric heating elements, and to reduce the weightof the curler. To insure a durable leakproof seal during heating andcooling, a molded rigid high melting plastic tubular body closed at oneend is used with a disc or toroid made of a compatible or same rigidplastic welded to the body after the heat retaining material isintroduced within the bod l-l air curling as practiced today in the homeand beauty shops involves division of the hair of the user into varioustresses or swatches. Each of the tresses or swatches is evenly wound ona hair curler and by dampening the curled tress with water or withchemicals, or applying heat or the like to the tress, the tress iscaused to take the form imparted to the hair by the curler. Heretofore,curlers were required to come in various diameters from about half aninch to three or four inches in diameter, to form the various size curlsrequired by the dictates of the user or the hairsetter.

With conventional hair curlers, the curling operation usually took fromone to three or more hours, depending upon the method of dryingemployed. 'Oftentimes the hair was set prior to retiring, so that thehair set during sleep. However, the curlers were uncomfortable to thewearer and various attempts were made to provide softness andflexibility of the curler, so as to reduce the discomfort. While thediscomfort could be reduced it was never eliminated.

It has been well-known in the art that the curling operation can behastened and performed more effectively if the hair can be maintained atan elevated temperature during the curling process. Various attempts toprovide the heat exteriorly on the curled hair were cumbersome andrequired expensive and cumbersome heating apparatus. Further, variousattempts were made to provide heat interiorly of the curl itself, suchas disclosed in the Pasternack Pat. 3,228,403. While these attempts weregenerally satisfactory, the curlers were expensive and relatively heavy,so that they proved uncomfortable to the user, who required a pluralityof these curlers in the hair at one time. Further, these prior artcurlers had to be heated in a single manner for a relatively long periodof time to reach the desired temperature, and did not allow forflexibility. Also, the curlers oftentimes leaked during prolonged usebecause of the difliculty of making a durable hermetic seal from theplastic. Some prior art curlers introduced the heat retaining materialvia a small opening and plugged the opening with a plastisol, whichhardened on drying. Prolonged heating often loosened the plug, causingleaks.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide asimple and effective hair curler which retains an elevated temperaturefor a protracted period of time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece haircurling device, which can be heated by various means prior to winding atress of hair thereabout, and which directs the retained heat to hairexteriorly wound about the peripheral surface of the curler for aprotracted period of time.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a haircurler of a predetermined diameter, which can produce a variety ofdifierent size curls proportionate to the length of time the tressremains wound about the curler.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple, quickmethod of manufacturing a plurality of durable one-piece hair curlingdevices, which are leakproof, retain elevated temperatures for aprotracted period of time and which are light in weight.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a haircurling device, which accomplishes all of the above, and yet is simpleand quick to use, inexpensive to fabricate, light in weight, fast actingand is reliable, durable and safe in use.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent when thefollowing description is considered in connection with the annexeddrawings which illustrate preferred embodiments therein.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a one-piece haircurler, comprising an outer tubular member having inner and outerperipheral surfaces, a plurality of interiorly directed spaced wallsintegrally attached at least along one edge to the inner surface of thetubular manner and co-extensive in length therewith, the walls and theinterior surface defining a plurality of spaced volumes, a heatretaining material substantially filling each of these volumes, andtransverse end pieces sealingly connected to said tubular member andsaid walls for each of said volumes and closing said volumes at eachend. At least one longitudinal passageway is left through the interiorof said curler defined by said walls and open at opposite ends.

FIG. 1 is a perspective elevated view of one form of a unit in which thehair curlers of the present invention can be heated and stored;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of one form of a hair curler, inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom end view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the presentinvention, similar to the view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of another embodiment of aview similar to FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 9 is a graph showing temperature against time of one formulation ofthe mixture contained in the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is an elevational perspective view showing a further embodimentfor heating hair curlers prior to use.

Similar reference characters refer to similar elements throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now to the embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGS.15, an assembly is shown in FIG. 1 for heating and storing a hair curler12. Assembly 10 has a generally rectangular base portion 14 having aplurality of cylindrical rods 16 extending from its upper surface. Eachof rods 16 contains an electrical heating element connected to asuitable electrical conductor for furnishing electricity thereto. Base14 contains the electrical conductors supplying the electric current tothe various heating elements in rods 16. Extending from base 14 is anelectrical conductor 18 terminating in a male plug 20 for insertion inan electric socket (not shown) for supplying through conductor 18 anelectric current to heat the various rods 16. Rods 16 are preferablyheated quickly to a predetermined temperature, advantageously which isabout 220 F. Suitable controls, which are well-known in the art, areincluded in the base to prevent over-heating, and for safety. Mounted onbase 14 and covering rods 16 is a mating cover 22. As shown, cover 22can be transparent and made of plastic, so as to keep the apparatus andcurlers clean and free from dust and retain the heat during use.Connected to base 14 is a storage tray 24 containing a series ofupstanding separated arms 26. Arms 26 are similar in dimensions to rods16 and store curlers 12 which are not being used, as shown. If desired,a suitable cover can enclose tray 24.

As seen best in FIGS. 2-5, curler 12 is generally tubular in crosssection with a generally thin outer cylindrical wall made of a rigidplastic material. Integrally attached to one end of wall 30 is aninteriorly directed annular, radial flange 32. Concentrically disposedwithin wall 30 and integrally attached to the inner diameter of flange32 is a closed ended tubular member 34. Tubular member 34 is of a lengthless than the length of curler 12, so as to be spaced inwardly from theother end of wall 30. Tubular member 34 defines an inner volume 35,which slidably mates with rods 16, in a manner discussed below. Theinterior volume 37 of curler 12, defined by the inner surfaces of wall30 and flange 32, and the outer surfaces of tubular member 34 is filledsubstantially full with a suitable heat retaining mixture 36. Mixture 36is introduced through the open end of curler 12 and after the desiredquantity of mixture 36 is introduced, the other end of curler 12 issealed fluid-tight with a disk 40. The open or other end of wall 30 hasan interior seat or rim 38 disposed about its inner peripheral surface,which matingly receives disk 40 for hermetically sealing the interiorvolume 37 of curler 12. Disk 40 is firmly pressed into seat 38 and sonicenergy is introduced into disk 40 remote from abutting interfaces withWall 30, which instantly welds disk 40 to wall 30 along the entirecircumference of the abutting surfaces. After the application of thesonic power and the welding of disk 40 to wall 30, mixture 36 is sealedwithin curler 12. Advantageously, wall 30, flange 32 and member 34 areintegrally molded in one piece, so as to insure a liquid-tight seal andinexpensive fabrication.

To use curler 12, plug 20 is connected to a source of electrical energyand rods 16 become heated within a short period of time. The innerdiameter of member 34 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of rods16, so that rods 16 are slidably received within volume 35. The lengthof volume 35 is advantageously slightly less than the length of rod 16,so rod 16 supports a corresponding curler 12, as seen best in FIG. 1.The desired number of curlers to be used are placed on correspondingrods 16 and are quickly heated. The heat of rod 16 is transmittedthrough member 34 and heats mixture 36. Mixture 36 is heated to thetemperature of rod 16 within a short period of time and retains the heatfor a period of time sufficient to perform the curling process. As seenbest in the graph of FIG. 9, the plastic curler takes about 20 minutesto fall from the temperature of about 4 212 F. to about 122 F. Theheated curler 12 is not uncomfortable to handle, because of theinsulating properties of the plastic material from which it is made. Theuser removes a heated curler 12 from a rod 16 and rolls a tress of hairthereabout in a conventional manner. The

rolled tress can be retained on the curler by clips, pins or the like.After the tress has remained on the roller for about 6 to 15 minutes,the roller is removed and the tress of hair is curled. For larger sizecurls the curler is left in position for less time, between 6 and 10minutes. For smaller curls the curler is left in the hair for longerperiods of time from about 10 to 20 minutes. For average size curls thecurlers are left in the hair for about 10 minutes.

Advantageously, the mixture used is a paraffin which passes through acrystallization stage in gOing from solid to liquid phase. If desired, acombination of paraflin and glycerin could be used. The boiling point ofthe parafiin and the combination paraflin and glycerin is sufficientlyhigh, so that the curlers can be heated to about 212 F. without creationof vapor pressure which could possibly rupture the curler during theheating operation.

A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 6, where a metal sleeve 44frictionally engages the interior circumferential wall of member 34. Theinterior diameter of metal sleeve 44 slidably receives rod 16. The metalof sleeve 44 speeds the transmission of the heat from rod 16 to mixture36, so as to hasten the heating of mixture 36 contained within curler12. While a metal sleeve 44 is disclosed, if desired an electricallyconductive plastic or other heat-conductive material could be used.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in FIG.7, wherein curler 50 is shown having a pair of concentric tubularmembers 52 and 54 of substantially the same length. Tubular members 52and 54 are integrally joined at one end by an annular end flange 56. Amixture 58 is introduced into and substantially fills the volume betweenwalls 52 and 54 and flange 56. When this volume is substantially filled,an annular flange 60 is mounted on the corresponding other ends ofmembers 52 and 54 and sealingly attached in position, so as to securelyseal mixture 58 within curler 50. Advantageously, flange. or toroid 60can be sonically welded to the interfaces of members 52 and 54, asdiscussed above. To aid in transmitting the heat into fluid 58 an innersleeve 62 of electrical conductive material such as aluminum or brass,is inserted interiorly of wall member 54. The interior diameter ofsleeve 62 is suflicient to slidably receive rod 16.

A further embodiment is disclosed in FIG. 8, wherein a curler 68 has anouter cylindrical thin wall 70 containing four separated fluidcompartments 72, 74, 76 and 78, respectively. These compartments areformed by right angle wall members 79 integrally connected to theinterior of cylindrical wall 70. Mixture 36 is introduced in each ofthese four volumes and one end of curler 68 is sealed as discussedabove. Wall members 79' are spaced apart and define a volume 80 in theform of a cross. Volume 80 receives a heating element havingsubstantially a similar cross section, so as to increase the area incontact with the heating element for speedier transmission of the heatto the mixture contained within volumes 72, 74, 76 and 78, so as to havethe curler reach its operating temperature rapidly.

As shown, to aid in rolling and holding the tress of hair about theouter surface of roller 12, rows of radially outwardly projections 84are shown.

A further method of heating curlers made in accordance with the presentinvention is an assembly 86, shown in FIG. 10. Assembly 86 has a base 88containing an infrared source of energy 90, which advantageously is aconventional electric light bulb. Base 88 contains electrical conductorssupplying electric current to infrared sources 90 from electricalconductor 92 terminating in a plug 94. Disposed above infrared sources90 and supported by base 88 is a heat-transmitting panel 96, which ispreferably a heat-resistant glass sheet. Panel 96 supports curlers 98.To prevent undesired movement of curlers 98, the upper surface of panel96 may be corrugated or have recesses to receive curlers 98. If desired,a rack could support curlers 98 above panel 96, so that curlers 98 wouldbe heated by convection and radiation from panel 96. Mounted on base 88is a mating cover 100. As illustrated, cover 100 is pivotally attachedto base 88 along hinge 102. Advantageously, cover 100 is closed duringheating of infrared sources 90, so as to retain the heat and speed theheating of curlers 98. In use, two 40 watt bulbs have been foundadequate to heat curlers 98 to desired temperatures in about 15 minutes.If panel 96 is made transparent or translucent, the light from the bulbs90 provides illumination to aid the user in selecting the curlers and incurling the hair.

While the embodiments 12, 50 and 68 are illustratively shown for usewith electrical heating elements, such as rods 16, these embodiments canbe heated also quickly in boiling water and heated air, such as withinassembly 86. In use the curlers are disposed in boiling water or heatedair and within a short while removed. Since the plastic is a goodinsulator, the heated curlers can be handled without discomfort and thehair roller in a conventional manner. Within a short period of time theheat transmitted from the roller into the hair wound exteriorly aboutthe rolling surface quickly sets the tress of hair. The curlingoperation takes from 6 to 15 minutes and the curl is formed. Havingcompleted the curling operation, the hair is unwound from the curler.

If desired, a curler can be provided for being heated only with heatedfluid, such as boiling water, or heated air. In this case, as shown inFIG. 8, instead of area 80 being hollow, it could be filled with plasticmaterial. However, the use of an opening interiorly of the hair curlerhastens the heating of the heat-retaining mixture, even if used withheated fluid. The boiling water or heated air which supplies the heatcontacts both the outer peripheral surface of the curler, as well as theinner walls defining the interior volume of the curler body.

The body of the curlers are formed of a rigid plastic which has a highersoftening point than the temperatures used either with boiling water,infrared energy or the heated rods 16. Some of the plastics which couldbe used are polystyrene, nylon, acrylics, polypropylenes, butyrates,polyethylenes and vinyl.

The present curler construction contains adequate heat retainingmaterial that when heated gives ofi heat sufficiently to provide aspeedy hair curling operation, but is lighter in weight than if theentire volume of the outer walls of the curler were entirely filled withthe heat-retaining mixture. Also, the interior openings, such as volumes35 and 80 allow the heated fluid to be transmitted to the heat-retainingmixture much more quickly than merely when surrounding the outer surfaceof the curler. This allows the curler to reach optimum temperaturequickly. Further, the welding of the open tubular end in the presentdisclosure allows the use of a rigid plastic, so as to make a durableleakproof curler. Thus, the entire curler body can safely withstand theelevated temperatures used without leaking. Thus, there has beendisclosed a lighter weight, quicker heating and more durable heatretaining curler than heretofore obtainable.

While preferred embodiments have been described above, it will beunderstood that many variations thereof will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof.Therefore, it is intended that the foregoing description shall be deemedillustrative only, and not construed in the limiting sense, the presentinvention being defined solely by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A one-piece plastic hair curler comprising an outer tubular memberhaving inner and outer peripheral surfaces, a plurality of interiorlydirected spaced walls integrally attached to the inner surface of saidtubular member and co-extensive in length with said tubular member, saidwalls and said inner surface defining a plurality of spaced volumes, aheat-retaining material substantially filling at least one of saidvolumes, and trans verse end pieces sealingly connected to said tubularmember and said walls at opposite ends of each of said filled volumessealing such volume and leaving a longitudinal passageway through saidcurler open at opposite ends.

2. A hair curler, as in claim 1, wherein at least two of said walls areparallel.

3. A one-piece plastic hair curler as defined in claim 1, wherein saidheat retaining material is paraffin.

4. A one-piece plastic hair curler, as defined in claim 1, wherein saidheat-retaining material is a mixture of paraffin and glycerin.

5. A one-piece plastic hair curler, as defined in claim 1, wherein saidheat-retaining material falls from about 212 F. to about F. in about 20minutes.

6. A hair curling assembly, comprising a base portion defining a volumeand having an open top, a heat-transmltting panel supported by said baseportion and substantially closing said open top, at least one lightbulbdisposed within said volume of said base portion and transmittinginfrared radiation and light through said panel, means for actuatingsaid lightbulb, a closure mating with said base for covering said paneland permitting visible light to pass through, and at least oneheat-retaining hair curler disposed on said panel to be heated, each ofsaid curlers comprising an outer tubular member having inner and outerperipheral surfaces, a plurality of interiorly directed spaced wallsintegrally attached to the inner surface of said tubular member andco-extensive in length with said tubular member, said walls and saidinner surface defining a plurality of spaced volumes, a heat-retainingmaterial substantially filling at least one of said volumes, andtransverse end pieces sealingly connected to said tubular member andsaid walls at opposite ends of each of said filled volumes sealing suchvolume and leaving a longitudinal passageway through said curlers openat opposite ends.

7. A hair curling assembly as in claim 6, wherein said curlers arefurther heated by convection from said panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,126,170 8/ 1938 Calvete 132-72,380,154 7/ 1945 Dickerson.

2,515,731 7/1950 Page 219411 X 2,767,297 10/1956 Benson 219-4113,103,934 9/1963 Sabourin.

3,257,541 6/1966 Jorgensen 219-222 3,410,985 11/1968 Giacchero 219-242 X3,227,065 1/1966 Litman 219-342 X FOREIGN PATENTS 908,197 8/ 1945France.

ANTHONY BARTIS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

